A complete performance of the famous Savoy operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan.

Ruddigore; or, The Witch's Curse, originally called Ruddygore, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert.

Act 1 The Fishing Village of Rederring, in Cornwall
Act 2 Picture Gallery In Ruddigore Castle.

Robin Oakapple, a young farmer:

Peter Prati

Richard Dauntless, his foster-brother. a Man-o'-war's man spoken by Barrie Ingham:

John Fryatt

Sir Despard Murgatroyd, of Ruddigore a wicked Baronet: Alan Dudley

Old Adam Goodheart, Robin's faithful servant spoken by Earle Grey:

Norman Lumsden

Rose Maybud, a village maiden spoken by Meg Wynn Owen: Ellen Dales

Mad Margaret: Patricia Routledge

Dame Hannah, Rose's aunt spoken by Shirley Cooklin: Monica Sinclair

Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, the twenty-first Baronet spoken by Julian Somers:

Forbes Robinson

Professional bridesmaid:

Zorah spoken by Sheila Hammond: Ursula Connors

Professional bridesmaid:

Ruth: Spoken By Wendy Lovelock

Chorus of Officers, Ancestors, and Professional Bridesmaids:

The John McCarthy Singers

The BBC Concert Orchestra

Leader: Arthur Leavins

Conducted By: Stanford Robinson

Produced By: Michael Moores

Broadcast:

Sun 26th May 1968

14:45 on BBC Radio 3

The "supernatural opera" opened on January 21, 1887 at the Savoy Theatre and ran for 288 performances. It was not revived until 1920 when it was substantially cut and provided with a new overture arranged by Geoffrey Toye.

The opera is a parody of the stock melodrama — the villain who carries off the maiden; the priggishly good-mannered poor-but-virtuous-heroine; the hero in disguise, and his faithful old retainer who dreams of their former glory days; the snake in the grass who claims to be following his heart; the wild, mad girl; the swagger of fire-eating patriotism; ghosts coming to life to enforce a curse; and so forth. But as one critic noted, Gilbert turns the moral absolutes of melodrama upside down: Good becomes bad, bad becomes good, and heroes take the easy way out.

[Gilbert and Sullivan Archive]

plus-circle Add Review

comment

Reviews